How to be a Fig Wasp

Abstract

In the two decades since Janzen described how to be a fig, more than 200 papers have appeared on fig wasps (Agaonidae) and their host plants (Ficus spp., Moraceae). Fig pollination is now widely regarded as a model system for the study of coevolved mutualism, and earlier reviews have focused on the evolution of resource conflicts between pollinating fig wasps, their hosts, and their parasites. Fig wasps have also been a focus of research on sex ratio evolution, the evolution of virulence, coevolution, population genetics, host-parasitoid interactions, community ecology, historical biogeography, and conservation biology. This new synthesis of fig wasp research attempts to integrate recent contributions with the older literature and to promote research on diverse topics ranging from behavioral ecology to molecular evolution.

Biogeography and divergence times in the mulberry family (Moraceae)

“…The obligate mutualism between Wgs and their specialized pollinating Wg wasps is a textbook example of plant-insect coevolution (Cook and Rasplus, 2003;Weiblen, 2002), and understanding the temporal congruence of the association could shed light on whether cocladogenesis has occurred. Here, we consider our estimates for the diversiWcation of Ficus with the Wndings for Wg wasps (Machado et al, 2001).…”

Pattern and timing of diversification in Yucca (Agavaceae): specialized pollination does not escalate rates of diversification

“…Some of the most remarkable adaptations for pollination are found in plants associated with seed-feeding pollinators, such as those of yuccas and yucca moths (Yucca and Hesperoyucca; Tegeticula and Parategeticula, respectively; Pellmyr 2003), figs and fig wasps ( Janzen 1979;Machado et al 2001;Weiblen 2002), Glochidion shrubs and gracillariid (Epicephala) moths (Kato et al 2003;Kawakita et al 2004) and the senita cactus and senita moth (Holland & Fleming 1999). In these associations, plants rely almost exclusively on a single pollinator species, whose larvae in turn feed on some of the host's developing seeds.…”

Structural and ultrastructural characterization of male reproductive tracts and spermatozoa in fig wasps of the genus Pegoscapus (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea)

“…The interaction between figs (Ficus: Moraceae) and fig pollinating wasps (Agaonidae, Chalcidoidea) represents perhaps the most tightly integrated pollination mutualism that is known ( Ramirez, 1970, Wiebes, 1979, Weiblen, 2002and Cook and Rasplus, 2003. Ficus is one of the most diverse genera of flowering plants ( Berg andWiebes, 1992 andHarrison, 2005).…”